Duo charged in six-count extortion indictment

2010-07-08T21:46:04Z2010-07-08T21:46:41Z

COLUMBIA, SC (WMBF) - Two men have been charged Wednesday in connection to an extortion case that resulted in a six-count indictment.

U.S. Attorney William Nettles said Thomas True, 67, of Mt. Pleasant, and Gunther Blancke, 37, of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, were each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit extortion by wrongful use of force, violence and fear. The duo also faces five counts each of attempted extortion by wrongful use of force, violence and fear.

An indictment alleges over a six-day period in June, True and Blancke conspired to obtain property from a victim with consent through wrongful use of actual and threatened force, violence and fear.

The indictment further alleges, according to Nettles, that the duo attempted to obtain additional property through threatened force.

The maximum penalty True and Blancke could receive on each count pressed is a $250,000 fine and five years in prison.